Manually operated phonograph



April 16, 1935- J. J. WARNER 1,998,149

'MANUALLY OPERATED PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 28, 1955 ,,,",l wll,lll,,llp"lllllld WIIIII/Ig INVENTOR, v

JESSE J. WARNER. W B a I u ATTORNEY Patonted Apr. '16,

' UNITED j STATES 1,998,149 'MANUALLY OPERATED PHONOGRAPH Jesse J. Warner, Application October 28,

12 Claims.

My invention relates to a manually operated phonograph and more particularly to manually operated phonographs of cheap construction adapted for use as toys, novelties, advertisements,

or for other diversified purposes.

Among the objects of my invention are: To provide a manually operated phonograph; to provide such a phonograph of exceptionally simple and cheap production; to provide sound record capable of being reproduced by manual operation; to provide a simple means ofsound reproduction; and to provide a sound record strip capable of being drawn by manual progression through a sound reproducer.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent or will be specifically pointed out in the description forming a part of this specification, but I do not limit myself to the embodiment of my invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claims.

In the drawing which illustrates one preferred form of my invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a manually operated phonograph;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional-view taken as indicated by the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the sound record strip, the section being taken through a point of zero modulation.

As the phonograph of my invention is particu larly adapted for low priced manufacture, and in large quantities, I have provided a sound record which may be progressed by the hand of the user to reproduce sound. It has been found that with very little practice even a small child can pull a sound record strip at a sufficiently uniform speed so that the reproduced sound is clearly understandable. I have also found that a more experienced user can, by varying the speed of progression, change the pitch and expression of the reproduced words to create novel effects. The invention has great application in the field of advertising, words and slogans directing attention to certain products being plainly reproduced.

Broadly, my invention comprises a sound record strip having an engraved sound track thereon, the strip preferably being of a length sufiiciently short as to allow all of the recording thereon to be reproduced with a single arm stroke. In use, the record strip is progressed relative to an air activating device while a grooved sound track thereon is in contact with such a device, as

exemplified by a small cone mounted in an en- Burlingame, Calif.

1933, Serial No. 695,575

closing case. I also prefer to apply pressure at the point of contact, and form the track of sufiicient depth that the contact means will readily follow the grooved track, even during the highest modulations. I also provide means for preventing the entire separation of strip and actuator during use.

In detail, my invention may be best understood by reference to the drawing.

A casing I preferably of cardboard or similar material is provided with an end aperture 2. Just below this aperture an air actuator 4, preferably a paper cone with its apex 5 extended inwardly, is mounted with its periphery 6 attached to the Wall of the casing.

Although there are many ways of attaching the cone .periphery, I prefer to make the casing in two parts, an outer wall layer 1 being broken near the middle 9 of the cylindrical wall so that the upper half forms a cover. The edge of the cone is then clamped between the inner wall layer edge Ill and the apertured end plate I I.

The bottom plate l2 of the casing is complete, and mounted thereon is a wooden guide block l4 having a strip groove l5 on the upper side thereof. Wall apertures Iii-l6 are positioned at the ends of the guide block to allow the entrance, and passage through along the guide of a sound strip l'l.

This strip, preferably of white celluloid, or similar fiexible material, has been provided with a sound track groove 19 on its upper surface, running longitudinally along the strip. Recording engravings 20 are out in the groove, preferably by the hill and dale recording method, and. I prefer to make the groove materially deeper than the maximum modulated cuts in the groove to assure proper tracking at all times. The general relationship of the groove to a maximum cut is diagrammatically shown in Figure l.

'A contact pin 2 I, preferably a phonograph needle, is mounted on the apex of the cone affixed thereto by cement 22 and extended toward the guide block so that the point enters the groove. '1 preferto make the angle of the pin to the strip a right angle so that the strip may be pulled through the casing in either direction without danger of the needle digging into the trackand destroying the modulations thereon.

If the cone is made of strong material, as, for example, of thin metal, in a complete device formed from tin plate, no further support for the contact pin is needed, as the cone will be sufficiently rigid to maintain the pin in position and to exert the proper pressure on the track.

In the cheaper models, as shown, wherein the cone is of paper, I prefer to include a pressure spring 24 which serves a dual purpose of placing the proper pressure on the track and of positioning the pin.

I prefer to fasten this spring to the guide block so that its fast end 25 has a curled-up edge 26 close to the adjacent wall aperture. This edge helps to guide the strip on insertion during assembly. A guide plate 21 with a similar edge is positioned at the other aperture.

A spring body 28 extends toward the cone apex and the central end is soldered or otherwise secured to the contact pin. immediately above the strip. As the fast end is held to the block by tacks 29, the pin is always maintained in the proper position to engage the track. The spring body may then be adjusted to apply the proper pressure between pin and track to ensure proper reproduction.

I prefer to make the sound record strip about 3 ft. long, which is sufliciently long to accommodate recordings of short sentences such as Merry Christmas to you, Drink Blanks beer, and similar word associations.

As a uniform speed is desired all the way to the end of the recording, there will be danger of pulling the end of the strip through the casing during operation, so I have provided each end of the tape with a stop curl 30, which is cheap to produce yet effective as a stop. After assembly of the device the ends of the strip may be slightly heated, bent into a curl, the material taking a set after cooling. It is of course .possible, by the use of abnormal strength to pull the end through, but the curl is in all respects an effective stop when normal pulls are exerted. In more expensive embodiments a button or metal clip might well be used.

The operation of the device is simple, yet the reproduction is surprisingly clear. The casing is held in one hand, and the strip is pulled with the other, care being taken to obtain uniform progression. After the reproduction has been accomplished the tape is pulled in the reverse direction, the backward reproduction providing an added interest.

It is, of course, natural that the frequency range of the device is poor. Nevertheless, the reproductions are preferably understandable and entirely satisfactory for a cheaply sold device. The acoustics may be greatly improved by placing the device face up in the center of a table, on a window pane, or other flat surface during operation, the extended surface acting as a baflie and increasing the response at low frequencies.

The actual dimensions of the instant example, which has proved satisfactory for advertising and novelty purposes is as follows:

Depth inches 2V2 Diameter of cone inches 3 Length of strip "feet" 3 The device as described may be produced in quantity manufacture for a few cents. It is ob vious, however, that the size, shape, and materials of the device may be changed within the scope of the claims to produce other examples of differing cost and acoustical characteristics.

I claim:

1. A manually operated phonograph comprising in combination, a flexible record strip of limited length having a longitudinal sound track engraved thereon, an air actuating device, means for maintaining said track in contact with said air actuating device when said strip is manually progressed, and means for preventing said strip from being pulled out of contact with said air actuating device when the end of said strip is approached.

2. A manually operated phonograph comprising in combination, a flexible record strip of limited length having a longitudinal sound track engraved thereon, a casing, a sound actuating device supported by said casing, a contact adapted to cooperate with said track connected with said sound actuating device, means within the casing for causing said contact to bear on said track when said strip is progressed through said casing, means for guiding said strip during the pulling operation, and means for preventing said strip from being entirely pulled through said casing.

3. A manually operated phonograph comprising in combination, a flexible record strip of limited length having a longitudinal sound track engraved thereon, a casing, cone diaphragm clos ing one end of said casing, having its apex extending inwardly, a contact pin extending inwardly and attached to said apex, a guide mounted in said casing adapted to conduct said strip through said casing when manually progressed with said sound track in contact with the end of said pin, and means for applying pressure between said pin and said track.

4. A manually operated phonograph comprising in combination, a flexible record strip of limited length having a longitudinal sound track engraved thereon, a casing, cone diaphragm closing one end of said casing, having its apex extending inwardly, a contact pin extending inwardly and attached to said apex, a guide mounted in said casing adapted to conduct said strip through said casing when manually progressed with said sound track in contact with the end of .said' pin, and means for preventing said strip from being entirely pulled through said casing.

5. A manually operated phonograph comprising in combination, a flexible record strip of limited length having a longitudinal sound track engraved thereon, a casing, cone diaphragm closing one end of said casing, having its apex extending inwardly, a contact pin extending inwardly and attached to said apex, a guide mounted in said casing adapted to conduct said strip through said casing when manually progressed with said sound track in contact with the end of said pin, and means on each end of said strip for preventing said strip from being entirely pulled through said casing.

6. A manually operated phonograph comprising a container, a diaphragm substantially closing one end of said container, a flexible record strip passing through the side walls of said container, means within said container for guiding said strip, and a stylus extending from said diaphragm to contact said strip.

7. A manually operated phonograph comprising a container, a diaphragm substantially closing one end of said container, a flexible record strip passing through the side walls of said container, means within said container for guiding said strip, and a stylus extending from said diaphragm to contact said strip and auxiliary resilient means to increase the pressure of said contact.

8. A manually operated phonograph comprising a container, a diaphragm substantially closing one end of said container, a flexible record strip passing through the side walls of said container, means within said container for guiding said strip, and a stylus extending from said diaphragm to contact said strip at right angles to the direction of movement thereof whereby said strip may be progressed in either direction.

9, A manually operated phonograph comprising a container, a diaphragm substantially closing one end of said container, a flexible record strip passing through the side walls of said container, a guide block having a groove therein adapted to flt said strip extending between the entrance and exit of said strip within said container, and a stylus extending from said diaphragm to contact said strip.

10. A manually operated phonograph comprising a container, a diaphragm substantially closing one end of said container, a flexible record strip passing through the side walls of said con-'- tainer, a guide block having a groove therein adapted to fit said strip extending between the entrance and exit of said strip within said container, means within said container for maintaining said strip in said groove, and a stylus extending from said diaphragm to contact said strip.

11. A manually operated phonograph comprising a container, a diaphragm substantially closing one end of said container, a flexible record strip passing through the side walls of said eontainer, a guide block having a groove therein adapted to fit said strip extending between the entrance and exit of said strip within said container, strip retaining means mounted on said block and adapted to direct said strip into said groove, and a stylus extending from said diaphragm to contact said strip.

12. A manually operated phonograph comprising a container, a diaphragm substantially closing one end of said container, a flexible record strip passing through the side walls of said container, a guide block having a groove therein adapted to flt said strip extending between the entrance and exit of said strip within said container, a stylus extending from said diaphragm to contact said strip, and strip retaining means mounted on said block adjacent the entrance and exit of said strip and adapted to maintain said strip in said groove, one of said retaining means being extended longitudinally of the groove to form a resilient support for said stylus.

mess: J. WARNER. 

